Sixth letter to help relate to Buddhists: Talk about Jesus

Transcription

1 Sixth letter to help relate to Buddhists: Talk about Jesus Here s a common way for Buddhists to express their belief, (name). A Chinese friend, Melinda*, wrote from Vancouver: I would like to share something about the conversation between my mom and me. I have tried to pursue my mom going to church and take a look. My mom said, "truth is from your heart, you will get blessing no matter it is God or Buddha." She is so gentle and humble. I have no idea to say anything. I responded, below. Hopefully you can get some ideas about talking to your Buddhist friends and family about Jesus. Letter to Melinda: Thanks for ing your mom's response, Melinda. It s a common way for Buddhists to think, North Americans too, discover your own truth. Many people accept this mindset about their lifestyle and their view of God. It s what most Buddhists believe. Oprah, the famous TV host, illustrates this thinking. She pictures God on the top of the mountain. Take any road you wish to get up to him, that s her advice. All religions are equal, equally effective in reaching God. Just pick the path you like. Many agree. As your mom expressed it, pick the truth from your heart. The problem is that this thinking doesn't stand up to close scrutiny. When you get to specifics, pick your path doesn t work. The truth-beliefs don t mesh together. They clash. You can see this as you study history. During World War II the Japanese claimed Chinese were an inferior race. That s why they killed millions of Chinese. That was the cause of the

2 wicked Nanjing massacre. The Japanese thought Chinese were worthless this was their truth, even thought it s not true. Nazi Germans went even further, believing that Jews were subhuman. They killed millions of Jews in the concentration camps. This was their "truth", but we refuse to it was the right or good way to live. It wasn t. We can see this in comparative religious studies too. Truths often contradict each other. Islam believes that infidels (that is, Jews and Christians) must convert to follow Allah. If they don t, they can be killed. Again that's their "truth", but we don't accept it as truth we think it s evil. In some religions women aren t important. The religion believes God cares for men more. A Christian would say no. We re equal in God s eyes. That s how Jesus lived and what the New Testament clearly teaches, There s no longer Jew or Gentile [non-jew], slave or free, male and female. For you re all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3.28) Two different truths about how God treats women. Both can't be true. Christians say Jesus died, was buried and rose again. Islam says Jesus never died, someone else was killed in his place. If one is right, the other must be wrong, although both say their statement is true. Buddhism teaches that ultimately we lose our identity and personality, merging into Nirvana. This is opposite to the Christian belief of Heaven. We don t disappear as a person in heaven. No, we ll be with God, who is both personal and infinite, and we remain as human persons ourselves. Two truths, but they contradict each other. We could say the same about the Buddhist teaching of reincarnation. Christians deny this. We aren t reincarnated many times. Resurrection is the truth for a Christian. Jesus came alive,

3 and we who believe in him will come alive again to be with God forever, with no more death. Buddhists also have idols and pray to them. Christians say this isn t right. We must not make a representation of God. Again, these two "truths" are opposite to each other. Although I mention these things to illustrate how find your own truth and pick your own path doesn't actually work in real life, Melinda, it might not be helpful to your family to mention this. These examples can lead to arguments instead of agreement. That s not always helpful, Talk about Jesus What is most important to us is Jesus, the one who came from God to show us who God is. He said about himself, I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father but through me. John 14.6 Jesus doesn't say, I'll show you the truth, teach you the truth. No, he says he is Truth an amazing claim! Jesus not only teaches what is true, he shows us truth by his life. He is Truth. Truth is wrapped up in a person, not just ideas. Truth is Jesus, and those who truly seek for truth end up finding him. I'd encourage you to expose your mom to Jesus as best you can. Perhaps that's even better than having her come to church right now. Tell her how Jesus inspires you. Talk about the wideness of his love, the beauty of his teaching. Show his attitude to the poor, to women, widows and orphans, his care the outsiders. Explain how his words have power and life in them. Power to stop storms, power to heal the sick. Tell her how his love is unlike anything you've experienced before.

4 You ll encourage your mom come to Jesus as you yourself are completely enthralled by the beauty of his teaching, his life, and his love (as shown in his sacrificial death on the cross). We should be captivated by this amazing Jesus, so much so that our devotion to him affects others who want to know why. That's what I want in my life, Melinda, to be amazed and delighted in Jesus. When Jesus asked his disciples if they would leave him, Peter gave a wise response: Simon Peter replied, Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God. (John That's how we want to live too. Where would we go, who would we go to? Only you, Jesus! You can say to Jesus yourself, what Peter said to him. If your mom is a truth-seeker, perhaps she'll come to Jesus because she finds he is the supreme Truth. It s like a story Jesus told of a jeweler who searched until finally he discovered the perfect jewel:...the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it! (Matt ) Some come to Jesus this way, searching for truth. When they find it, they abandon everything else. They ve found what they searched for! This should be true when we encounter Jesus. He s all the truth we need. The Bible is clear, I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Colossians 2.2b-3) Let's pray your mother will search for truth, and discover it is in Jesus. Just some thoughts to encourage you, Melinda.

5 Paul